"No," she said, "I am not lonely, and I want no friends—yet. I want to be quiet for a little while—presently——"
"Presently you will want them?"
"No, I think not, father, and yet I don't know. Yes, perhaps I shall. Besides, I think we ought. But it was not of that I was thinking."
"I daresay the people around here will be calling soon."
"No, I do not think so."
"Why?"
"Well, you see, the farmers will not dare to call; they will think it presumptuous. As for the county people, they will not think it incumbent upon them to do so."
"No?"
"Two things will stand in the way of their doing so. First, you are what they call a dissenter, and that would be sufficient to ostracise us; and, second, they would regard us as of the nouveau riche order, because you have made your wealth by commerce."
John Castlemaine laughed.